Put These Words In The Dressing Room To Inspire Our Players

Written by Dr. Ed Harrison

11:33am Wednesday, July 31st, 2013

Commented 293 times

The famous quote from Bobby Robson about what is a football club – just about describes the complete and utter passion the Newcastle fans have for their club – and of course Bobby was manager at Newcastle United from early September of 1999 through late August of 2004, when he was sacked because 5th place wasn’t good enough for then Chairman Freddy Shepherd.

Sir Bobby Robson – the great one But as usual Bobby took his shock dismissal with the dignity he showed throughout his life, and kept quiet about it – although he was utterly and completely shocked, after he successfully led the side to 4th, 3rd and 5th in successive seasons, after coming in and rescuing us in 1999 from the mess Ruud Gullit had left.

Here’s those words from the great one:

“What is a club in any case?” “Not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it.”

It’s not the television contracts, get-out clauses, marketing departments or executive boxes.”

“It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city.”

“It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.”

We have players from all over the place in the squad, and they need to know what football club they are playing for, and before every home game the manager should point to the plaque on the wall, to remind the players the club they are playing for.

That should give us a two goal start. 😀

And we should add that today is exactly four years since Bobby passed away away from cancer.

Newcastle is certainly not an ordinary club, but extra ordinary and one of the best supported clubs on the planet, even though we haven’t won anything for 44 years.

Who’s the special one here – hint – it’s not the guy on the right

We think it would be a great thing to do – a large plaque on the dressing room wall with Bobby’s words and a picture of the great one, and it will remind the players of Bobby’s great legacy at his home town club.

It’s certainly inspired me – now where did I put those boots 25 years ago? 😀

What do you think?

Note – I immediately deleted that article about Joey Barton, once a reader reminded me it was two years old – it was my error.

293 comments so far

Imagine the likes of Krul, Coloccini etc. taking advice from BARTON, SMITH, CARROLL lol The only sensible ones were Nolan and Harper!

I think I smell something, could it be cat sh!t, could it be dog sh!t, NO its bullsh!t.

And him in prison, lets be honest you CAN and perfectly in your means to sack someone for going to prison as a breach of conduct.

You only need to see what he did at Man City and QPR and how quick they pushed him out to see what you get with Barton!

Think he is telling some porkies….. although the reduction contract sounds believable, the likelyhood is they did not choose to sack him as he was an asset to the club, a one that could have been sold.

I want to see us sign 1 striker and 1 attacking player plus a few young players for the under-21 team. I think we’ll spend £10-15M and I think we’ll get 7th or 8th place. I think Pardew should be given a few months to prove we can achieve this and will be moved on if we’re struggling come December. And I think the “Ashley out” brigade are mad because he’s hardly likely to just walk away from the club.

I would think the best thing would be MA sellin to someone who actually wants us as a team/club. Someone who wants more than just being in the league. Someone who wants to tap into the passion of the place and not just to use us as a cheap advert for a tatty cheap store. Someone who would agree with the majority of people that Wonga arnt worthy of being our sponsers.

great idea Ed.I can relate to what SBR says.I remember walking up those stairs with my school mate,8 years of age & doing exactly that….falling in love with NUFC. I have always looked upon it as never ending love affair.The highs & lows just like a marriage. I remember getting lifted over the top of supporters heads from the back to the front so i could sit the the cinder track around the pitch.The first time I read it I got a lump in my throat. RIP SBR.

yes, let’s all forgot conversations we were in the middle of on posts-past to entertain your skewed belief that if we simply withhold anything other than the related to this article that you’ll be littered in silent accolades because you, dear richy, have proven the last, final possessor of morality in this barren, God-less blog

how about you respect other people’s debates? we all know how ALL of us feel about SBR. comments pertinent only to a haphazard article on a pop-up infested blog are not indicative or otherwise of our affection or appreciation towards him.

mate you have now reached the top of list for the most fickle fan on here, you honestly think MA will spend 10-15 million on players, get over mate, MA wants to sell the club so why on earth would he bring players in when he’s selling out?

Spot on comment there from SBR and exactly why Ashley, JFK and Wonga will never be able to rip the heart and soul out of our club. It will always remain while we have fans who are passionate about this club.

SBR was the greatest NUFC manager in my lifetime. He deserved to be the man to bring us a trophy and I’m sure he’d be proud to see so many good things happening in his name even after his death.

Yours is just yet another opinion on here. There are several other fans who say he will never sell because it’s his vehicle for promoting Sports Direct and they’re just as convinced that they are right as you are.

There’s no evidence that he’s trying to sell now and if he does want to sell in the future, then why not spend a little of THE CLUB’S MONEY and sign the players that we need to round off the squad and target the top 8?

You wasted your time. Sad isn’t it? For what its worth, i agree that this shoild have just been for sbr comments, discussions being picked up again on the next article. I cant actually believe someone has actually actively attempted to start an argument with you over it!

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health update

I was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in February 2017 and completed four months of chemotherapy in late July and will continue to have hormone treatment.

The cancer spread in the bones but it has been stabilized and has not spread further.

I am still recovering from some of the side effects of the chemo treatment - it's mainly severe fatigue and exhaustion.

Stage 4 cancer is not curable so I will continue to have cat scans and bone scans every four months to ensure the cancer is not spreading.

It is as it is - these things happen - and I will do my very best under the circumstances.

Ed Harrison

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It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city. It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.